Annie Jr. Wraps Up a Stellar Run at Area Stage Conservatory

After a string of nearly sold-out performances, Area Stage Conservatory’s production of Annie Jr. has officially taken its final bow. This heartwarming musical, brought to life by our talented young performers, captured the hearts of audiences throughout its run from December 6th - 15th, 2024.

About Annie Jr.

Based on the popular comic strip Little Orphan Annie, this junior adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical follows the inspiring story of Annie, a spunky orphan determined to find the family she’s always dreamed of. Set in 1930s New York City during the Great Depression, Annie’s journey takes her from the confines of Miss Hannigan’s orphanage to the lavish mansion of billionaire Oliver Warbucks. Along the way, she brings hope and optimism to everyone she meets with her signature song, “Tomorrow.” Filled with iconic tunes like “Hard Knock Life” and “Maybe,” Annie Jr. is a story of resilience, love, and the power of dreams.

Congratulations to both of our amazing casts of talented young stars who rocked the stage this past December!

Mykaela Acle, Lola Alvarez, Luna Amandi, Emily Barrow, Martin Bustos, Vera Ciocca, Lilyrose Victoria Cortez, Gemma Cosmao, Amara Dale-Wright, Nilria Dale-Wright, Arianna Davis, Camille Davis, Orly Etiel, Camilla Fernandez, Chloe Flynn-Corbin, Arianna Garcia, Sofia Goepel, Ronan Horth, Dasha Koster, Catalina Lesniak, Naomi Levy, Lucas Lowery, Bianca Martinez, Anna Mathew, Beatriz McGinn, Lucia McGinn, Mila Migliora, Juliana Lorenzo Morales, Ishmael Napoles, Alexis Olozaga, Isabel Parker-Yarnal, Kira Perez-Oizumi, Margot Petitto, Chloe Eramil Pierre, Bali Prats, Lucas Ramos, Olivia Rodriguez, Ryan Scurlock, Avery Selem, Giuliana Sidi, Clara Souza, Karina Urbinati, Mia Wade

What’s Next at Area Stage Conservatory?

While it’s bittersweet to bid farewell to Annie Jr., the excitement continues at Area Stage Conservatory! Up next, we are thrilled to present our 2024 Fall Showcase, where students will take the stage to share what they’ve been working on in their classes all semester. This showcase is a wonderful opportunity for students to demonstrate their growth and creativity, and for friends and family to celebrate their hard work and dedication.

This year’s Fall Showcase promises to be an inspiring evening filled with a variety of performances from December 17th-18th. Tickets are available now at areastageconservatory.org/whatsonnow

Looking Ahead: Spring Enrollment is Open!

Spring 2025 is shaping up to be another unforgettable semester at Area Stage Conservatory! Enrollment is now open for classes and our next junior conservatory production, Seussical Jr. This whimsical and imaginative musical combines beloved Dr. Seuss stories into one enchanting tale. Featuring Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, and a cast of colorful characters, Seussical Jr. is perfect for students ready to take their creativity to the next level.

In addition to the production, our conservatory classes will continue to nurture the talents of young performers with a curriculum that includes acting, musical theatre, voice, and dance. Taught by industry professionals, our classes are designed to build confidence, foster teamwork, and inspire a love for the performing arts.

Join the Magic at Area Stage Conservatory

From sold-out productions like Annie Jr. to exciting new opportunities like the Fall Showcase and Seussical Jr., there’s always something special happening at Area Stage Conservatory. Whether your child dreams of the spotlight or wants to explore their creative potential, our conservatory is the perfect place to grow and shine.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Area Stage family! Visit areastageconservatory.org/enroll or call (305) 666-2078 to learn more about Spring Enrollment and upcoming productions. 

Area Stage Co. to present its 2022 premier Conservatory production at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theater

Miami, FL, For Immediate Release - Area Stage Company (ASC) is excited to announce the presentation of its 2022 premier Conservatory production at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (title under consideration). This marks the first time in the ASC Conservatory’s 12 year history that a student Conservatory production will be produced offsite. 

Beauty and the Beast will run for only one weekend in the Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theater from August 5th - 7th. This will be a lavish, full scale, enchanting production, featuring a full cast of exquisitely talented Conservatory students, perfect for the whole family to attend. It will be directed and choreographed by ASC Director of Conservatory Education, Rebecca Ashton, with music direction by Katie Duerr. 

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman with a book by Linda Woolverton, is based on the 1991 animated classic film. This “tale as old as time” tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Tickets for this production are not yet on sale, but are expected to be available through the Arsht Center box office in late September.

ABOUT AREA STAGE COMPANY (ASC)

Area Stage Company is a non-profit, professional theatre company that, for over 32 years, has staged provocative, world-class theatre and musical productions becoming one of South Florida’s most influential arts organizations. Focusing on artistic innovation, education, inclusion, and equity, ASC produces a yearly season of mainstage works, houses a world-class youth Conservatory, the LGBTQIA+ initiative: The Miami Queer Collective, the eÑe Project for Spanish speaking artists and audiences, and the Inclusion Theatre Project, which offers free training to students with developmental disabilities. Area Stage has recently won the coveted titles of “Best Theatre Company 2019 & 2020” -- the Miami New Times Readers Choice Poll, and “Best Performing Arts Theater in Coral Gables 2019”.

Area Stage Co. announces auditions for the Conservatory production of Marvel’s Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play

Miami, FL, For Immediate Release - Area Stage Company (ASC) is excited to announce auditions for its Conservatory Stage III (ages 14+) production of Marvel’s Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play.  This will mark the first time the ASC Conservatory will present a play from the Marvel franchise.

Enrollment is by audition only. UPDATED Audition date: Thursday, September 16th, 7:00-9:00PM. Please register to attend the audition by joining the “Waitlist” for this production on our website enroll page. This is a Conservatory(student) production intended to be an educational experience for young actors wishing to make the transition to a college program or professional theatre work. Participation fee: $650

SYNOPSIS: FIND THE HERO WITHIN! When a strange Terrigen Mist descended upon Jersey City, Kamala Khan was imbued with polymorphic powers. Her life was changed forever and so were the lives of her family and friends. Using her newfound abilities to fight evil and protect Jersey City, she became the all-new Ms. Marvel!

Kamala attempts to boost Ms. Marvel’s fledgling superhero profile by writing her own fan fiction. But when building a fandom becomes an obsession, Kamala’s schoolwork and relationships begin to suffer. To become the Jersey City hero of her dreams, Kamala must learn to accept herself just as she is – imperfections and all.

Character Breakdown:

THE TEENS

KAMALA KHAN – a.k.a. Ms. Marvel. Female identifying.
NAKIA BAHADIR – Kamala’s best friend. Female identifying.
BRUNO CARRELLI – Kamala’s other best friend and sometime crush. Male identifying.
GABE HILLMAN – Bruno’s friend, the smooth guy. Male identifying.
ZOE ZIMMER – Kamala’s kinda snotty classmate. Female identifying.
JOSH RICHARDSON – Zoe’s boyfriend, the jock. Male identifying.
LEE – Josh’s friend. Male identifying.
ALEX – Josh’s friend. Any gender.
MICHAELA “MIKE” GUTIERREZ – Bruno’s girlfriend, the new girl. Female identifying.
FANGIRL – Female identifying.
STUDENTS

THE ADULTS

AMMI – Kamala’s mother. Female identifying.
MS. NORRIS – Physics teacher. Female identifying.

THE FAN FIC CHARACTERS

FAN FIC MS. MARVEL I, II, & III – Played in three different scenes by three different actors. Any gender.
BADDIES – REESE & FLYNN. Any gender.
DELI WORKER – Any gender.
CAT BURGLAR – Any gender.
REPORTER (1-2) – Any gender.
THIEF – Any gender.
FAN FIC ENSEMBLE

THE SUPER HEROES

CAPTAIN MARVEL – Female identifying.
IRON MAN – Doubled by the actor playing JOSH. Male identifying.
BLACK WIDOW – Doubled by the actor playing ZOE. Female identifying.
DOCTOR STRANGE – Doubled by the actor playing LEE. Male identifying.

ABOUT AREA STAGE COMPANY (ASC)

Area Stage Company is a non-profit, professional theatre company that, for over 32 years, has staged provocative, world-class theatre and musical productions becoming one of South Florida’s most influential arts organizations. Focusing on artistic innovation, education, inclusion, and equity, ASC produces a yearly season of mainstage works, houses a world-class youth Conservatory, the LGBTQIA+ initiative: The Miami Queer Collective, the eÑe Project for Spanish speaking artists and audiences, and the Inclusion Theatre Project, which offers free training to students with developmental disabilities. Area Stage has recently won the coveted titles of “Best Theatre Company 2019 & 2020” -- the Miami New Times Readers Choice Poll, and “Best Performing Arts Theater in Coral Gables 2019”.